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Ken started his career as an engineer/physicist within the US Navy. Since then, he’s been a growth-stage B2B SaaS specialist helping to successfully grow multiple companies to IPO and acquisition. Ken is a former Chief Product Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Customer Officer, Chief Operating Officer and multi-time CEO. Ken has engineering degrees from RPI and Virginia Tech and an MBA from Stanford where he was an Arjay Miller scholar.


Ryan Bateman is the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Sands Capital, where he has led technology strategy and cybersecurity since 2011. Before joining Sands Capital, he held senior technology roles at Ipreo and FBR Capital Markets, including directing global sales, trading, and equity capital markets systems.


Jason Baibokas is a managing director at BDC, currently managing the firm's $100-million Black Entrepreneurs Fund. Prior to BDC, Baibokas has over 25 years of experience in capital markets and entrepreneurial growth, including serving as a principal at investment and advisory firm KASCorp and chief financial officer at Toronto-based digital mortgage platform 8Twelve Financial Technologies.


David Hefter leads BlackRock’s internal AI strategy and adoption for investments, working across public and private markets. He chairs the AI governance committee and produces a weekly internal AI Newsletter. With over two decades experience at BlackRock, David has been driving AI initiatives for the past 5 years, having studied computer science and AI at Columbia University.


Jonah Surkes joined Generation Investment Management in 2021 and is a member of the Growth Equity strategy team, serving as an Investment Director. Previously, Jonah was an investment banking analyst at Greenhill & Co.
Jonah received a BA in Human, Social and Political Science from University of Cambridge, Clare College.